For several years now, the NGO Women in Media has been actively supporting Ukrainian women journalists, including by encouraging them to take care of themselves in a timely manner. We know how often self-care is postponed “for later.” But without your health, there can be no voice, no resilience, and no change.
That is why in 2026, with the support of our partners — the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) — we are continuing the “Taking Care of Our Health” program and launching new rounds of support.
We are pleased to announce that the first round starts now, ahead of International Women’s Rights Day, which is celebrated every year on March 8.
What the program covers
Within the program, we reimburse selected participants for expenses up to 8,000 UAH per person for:
- preventive medical check-ups;
- doctor visits and medical examinations (ultrasound, X-ray, gastroscopy, etc.);
- laboratory services;
- psychotherapeutic support;
- rehabilitation and recovery (including massages);
- ophthalmology services and prescription glasses.
We place particular emphasis on women’s health, including menstrual health, menopause-related issues, hormonal and oncological screenings, breast cancer prevention, and gynecological consultations — but the program is not limited to these areas.
This program is not only about targeted financial support. Our goal is also to highlight that systematic care for the health of women media professionals should become the norm rather than the exception.
We call on media organizations to:
- initiate social insurance programs;
- allocate funds for medical and psycho-emotional support in their annual budgets;
- extend such opportunities not only to staff members but also to freelancers;
- consider the health of their teams as a key component of institutional resilience.
Media outlets cannot be resilient if their teams are exhausted, if journalists must pay for treatment out of pocket, or if they postpone medical check-ups for years.
Reporting requirements
After receiving services, participants must provide receipts or invoices confirming that they visited a doctor or received a medical service. In addition, selected participants are asked to publish a short feedback post on their social media (without disclosing any medical information).
Important: Your application must include a specific list of services with an approximate cost estimate. Applications with general wording such as “8,000 UAH needed for treatment” without details will not be considered. We aim to support as many media professionals as possible, so we ask applicants to approach their calculations responsibly and realistically. We do not ask you to disclose your health condition and guarantee confidentiality.
How to apply
Applications can be submitted until March 16, 2026, by filling out the form via the link.
Confirmation emails will be sent only to selected participants. Unfortunately, we cannot support all applications, but we are working to expand the program’s opportunities.
For any questions, please contact the Project Manager Oleksandra Horchynska at: gor4inska@gmail.com
Join the community
Women in Media is a civil society organization that grew out of a small community of women journalists. We are media professionals who see the problems from within and seek ways to overcome them.
To stay informed about our activities, join discussions, and contribute to the development of the community, follow our pages on Facebook and Instagram, and join our Facebook group. Let’s stay connected, exchange ideas and perspectives — the more of us there are, the more opportunities we have for development, support, and care for one another.
The “Taking Care of Our Health” program is organized by NGO Women in media is a part of the Voices of Ukraine project, which is included in the SAFE programme coordinated by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom. Voices of Ukraine is implemented within the Hannah Arendt Initiative.”